What if lucas had chosen star trek? a sci-fi history divergence
Imagine a world where George Lucas didn't birth Star Wars, but instead steered the course of Star Trek. It's a tantalizing “what if” scenario, one that reveals a surprising near-miss in Hollywood history—and just how close Lucas came to shaping a franchise entirely different from the galaxy far, far away we know.
The untold story: lucas's trek pursuit
According to Philip Kaufman, director of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and once attached to an early iteration of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Lucas seriously considered acquiring the rights to Star Trek before embarking on his own space opera. Kaufman recounted a conversation where Lucas, even before American Graffiti had solidified his reputation, actively inquired about the availability of the franchise. The sheer audacity of a future cinematic titan eyeing an existing, albeit dormant, universe is remarkable.
The mid-1970s Hollywood landscape presented a unique opportunity. Star Trek, having concluded its original television run in 1969, was struggling to make the leap to the big screen. Paramount Pictures was grappling with creative direction and funding, leaving the door ajar for a potential takeover. Lucas, riding the wave of American Graffiti’s success, saw a chance to seize a pre-existing, established brand.
But why didn’t he? Kaufman described Lucas as feeling “overwhelmed” when presented with the challenge of directing a Star Trek film—a testament to the ambition and scope of the project, even in its nascent stages. Creative disagreements within Paramount ultimately stalled the project, paving the way for Lucas to pursue his own vision.
Parallel universes: how star wars forged its own path
Lucas’s decision to create Star Wars, a gamble that few studios were initially willing to fund, fundamentally altered the course of cinematic history. It birthed a blockbuster phenomenon, inspired generations of filmmakers, and spawned a cultural juggernaut that continues to resonate today. The ripple effects are almost impossible to quantify—consider the influence Star Wars had on Ridley Scott’s Alien, a direct lineage of visual storytelling.
Interestingly, the connection between the two franchises didn't end there. While Lucas didn’t helm Star Trek, he admitted to watching episodes of the original series while crafting the screenplay for Star Wars, a clear indication of its influence. Both universes explore galactic governments, diverse inhabited worlds, and intricate political conflicts—though Star Trek consistently championed scientific exploration and diplomacy, while Star Wars embraced myth, adventure, and the timeless battle between good and evil. Further intertwining their fates, Industrial Light & Magic, Lucas's groundbreaking visual effects company, eventually contributed its talents to Star Trek projects.
The implications of Lucas securing Star Trek are staggering. Not only would the franchise have undoubtedly been reshaped by his distinct vision, but the very existence of Star Wars—Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, the Force—might have been erased. We can scarcely imagine a world without those iconic elements.
The history of cinema is punctuated by pivotal moments, but few carry the weight of this near-miss. George Lucas’s choice—to build his own universe rather than inherit one—not only gifted us with Star Wars but also allowed both franchises to evolve independently, enriching the science fiction genre in profoundly different ways. It’s a reminder that even the most seemingly immutable realities of pop culture are the product of fleeting, contingent decisions.
The reverberations of this choice continue to shape our entertainment landscape. The legacy of both franchises stands as a testament to the power of bold creative risks.